Day in and day out, we trudge to and from class. During that time, we tend to get tense and irritable. One of the things that many animals do to relieve stress is to stretch out.

Stretching is probably one of the most underrated things you can do for yourself. Although you probably won’t be able to put your ankles behind your head, you’ll most likely be more flexible than when you started.

To better understand flexibility, there is a study in progress on the Davie FAU campus that scrutinizes the hamstrings specifically. Subjects between the ages of 18-45 years of age are needed for four days per week for four weeks.

The three stretch groups include static, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), and active-isolated stretching (AI). Static stretching involves holding a stretch for 20-30 seconds without bouncing. PNF requires contraction and relaxation of the muscle before stretching. AI entails contracting the thigh and stretching the hamstrings for two seconds. The fourth group is a control group that does not stretch the hamstrings for the duration of the study.

All subjects will be randomly assigned to each of the four groups. The initial session takes about 45 minutes but all following sessions will take 10 minutes or less.

So what’s in it for you besides being more flexible and contributing to scientific research? You may also be able to receive extra credit for your participation if you’re in the exercise science program.

If you are interested in taking part in the study or have any questions, contact Kenric Lai at [email protected] or 954/236-1018 (FAU Wellness Center).

Kenric Lai is a graduate student on the Davie campus. He is working on this project for his thesis.